Month: April 2017

Can you remember the last time you had a good belly laugh? When you laughed so hard, you cried? As it turns out, you weren’t just having fun. You were helping to better your health.

Laughter can be good for the heart and soul, and even your waistline. Here are seven reasons why this Burbank chiropractor prescribes laughter:

Lowers stress

Lowers blood pressure

Boosts immunity

Decreases pain

Prevents heart disease

Relaxes muscles

Increases alertness, creativity, and memory

A recent study at Loma Linda University suggests that laughter can help improve short-term memory in older adults. And a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University found that laughter may even help you to shed a few pounds.

Surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain as early as the 13th century. Later, in the 20th century, came the scientific study of the effect of humor on physical wellness. Many credit this to Norman Cousins, an American political journalist, and author. After years of pain from a serious illness, Cousins claims to have cured himself with a self-invented regimen of laughter and vitamins. In his 1979 book Anatomy of an Illness, Cousins describes how watching comedic movies helped him recover.

You may recall the recent movie Patch Adams, about a medical doctor who literally donned clown attire as therapy for his patients. The real Dr. Adams founded The Gesundheit! Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes holistic healthcare. And yes, he still sees patients and lectures in clown attire.

Laughter may not be a miracle cure. It might not heal your painful lower back like treatments from this Burbank chiropractor. But it definitely can reduce mental tension and increase energy. Beware though! It’s said to be contagious. Next time you hear someone bursting out loud with laughter, join in. I’ll bet you a thousand smiles, you’ll be glad you did.

This Saturday, April 22 marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day, and on this day over a billion people in nearly 200 countries are expected to take action to protect our shared environment.

But why wait for just one day? Why not celebrate and care for our precious environment all year long? The changes you make today have a greater likelihood to become a part of your lifestyle if you consciously repeat them over time.

I know that for me, every day is Earth Day. At the office, we recycle and reuse everything we can. We are conservative with water usage and turn on lights and air conditioning in rooms as needed. I happily drive a Prius that gets amazing mileage with very little carbon footprint.

Here are a few suggestions for how you can celebrate Earth Day every day in your lifestyle and home.

Use your cloth bags. We all have a collection of cloth bags gathering dust in the trunk of our car. If you shop in Burbank or the Los Angeles area, you will pay ten cents for a heavy plastic, reusable bag if you don’t bring your own. Don’t buy it. Place your paid-for items back in the cart and bag them as you put them in your trunk. Or buy a paper bag if you must. They are great for holding recycling.

Start composting. If you live where you have a yard or garden, you can compost. More than a billion pounds of food are thrown away each year. Help make a difference by turning your food waste into soil.

Buy local produce. Eat fresher and healthier by buying local produce. Look for the closest Farmer’s Market to where you live and become a regular shopper.

Recycle your e-waste. Every year, thousands of old electronic devices — we’re talking big old TV’s, computer printers, etc. — are tossed into landfills, polluting the environment when they can be recycled. Go online and find out where you can take your old electronics for recycling.

Use less water. The city of Los Angeles recently announced that we are reaching our water conservation goals. This is no time to get lazy! Turn the water off when you brush your teeth. Take shorter showers. Run the clothes and dishwasher with full loads only. In this drought-prone region, it’s only a matter of time before this precious commodity is at a premium once again.

A cup of tea a day may be just what the doctor ordered for lifelong brain health. And this may be especially so for those who are genetically predisposed to debilitating Alzheimer’s disease.

This is according to a recent study led by Assistant Professor Feng Lei from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the National University of Singapore. The study involving 957 Chinese seniors aged 55 years or older found that regular consumption of tea lowers the risk of cognitive decline in the elderly by 50%. The study also found that APOE e4 gene carriers who are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease may experience a reduction in cognitive impairment risk by as much as 86%.

Researchers also discovered that the neuroprotective role of tea consumption on cognitive function is not limited to a particular type of tea. As long the tea is brewed from tea leaves, such as green, black, or oolong tea, they all have the same protective effect.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the United States. In 2015, more than 3.6 billion gallons of tea were consumed, with black tea being the most popular.

What makes tea so effective for good brain health?

According to Assistant Professor Feng, “Based on current knowledge, this long term benefit of tea consumption is due to the bioactive compounds in tea leaves, such as catechins, theaflavins, thearubigins and L-theanine. These compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential and other bioactive properties that may protect the brain from vascular damage and neurodegeneration. Our understanding of the detailed biological mechanisms is still very limited so we do need more research to find out definitive answers.”

The research team published their findings in scientific journalThe Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging in December 2016.

As any parent in the state of California can tell you, since the passage of SB 277 in 2015, all children must have their vaccinations current in order to be enrolled in school. Whether you are for vaccinations or against them, they are a mandatory fact of life. But besides what is mandated by the state, there is a lot more you (and I) need to know about vaccinations. And you can learn more by viewing a free web documentary series that airs beginning next Wednesday, April 12.

Vaccinations are not only given to children — there are many that are recommended that you take throughout your life and well into your senior years. This controversial topic often sets off a string of heated conversations that hinge more on ideology and “groupthink” than actual truth and scientific fact.

You owe it to yourself to make an informed decision about any healthcare you and members of your family receive. And this free documentary series will give you plenty of information from 60 of the world’s foremost health experts. This new cutting-edge series explores both sides of the vaccine debate and gives you the full story so that you can make your own decision about what’s best for you and your family.

Topics to be addressed include the history of vaccines and what diseases they have successfully eradicated over the years, vaccine risks and safety concerns, and options and alternatives. The series is hosted by New York Times best-selling author, Ty Bollinger. The episodes will be released one per day over seven days.

Beginning on Wednesday, April 12, this seven-episode series, “The Truth About Vaccines,” will be available free online. I will be watching it, and I recommend that you do, too. Sign up at this secure link: https://go.thetruthaboutvaccines.com